Unidirectional restraining device for a fastening cord



Nov. 6, 1951 A. E. E. PATERSON UNIDIRECTIONAL RESTRAINING DEVICE FOR A FASTENING CORD Filed Deo. 23, 1948 Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i Y estacas f UNIDIRECTIOAVIQ' RESTRAIN IN G DEVICE FOR A FASTENIN G CORDV Adeline E. E. Paterson, Chicago, Ill.

Application December Z3, 1948,V Serial No. 66,998

This invention relates to a unidirectional restraining device for a fastening cord such` as a drawstring, a shoe string, ribbon or the like.`

The principal object of the invention is to provide a compact, rugged and simple restraining device for a drawstring or ay shoe string, to eliminate tying or knotting of the ends of the string.

Another object is to provide a restraining de` vice which isfreely slidable on the cord` in' the direction of the object which is held closed by the cord, but which is restrained against motion along the cord in the opposite direction and may be easily released by finger pressure.

A further object is to provide a restraining device which does not damage the cord.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. l is a plan View of the restraining device; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a section taken as indicated at 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a, section similar to Fig. 3 but showing the spring flexed to release the restraining device for motion along the cord.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, 5

and 6 are the two ends of 'a cord to which the restraining device is applied.

As best seen in Fig. 3, the restraining device has a housing 8 which is open at both ends and which has converging side walls 9 and I0 so that it is wedge-shaped, the tcp and bottom walls II and I2 of the housing preferably being parallel. A post I3 extends from top to bottom of the housing, adjacent the smaller end thereof, and is laterally centered therein.

A bifurcated spring, indicated generally at I4, spans the post I3 and has its arms I5 and I6 projecting from the larger end of the housing. The spring is preferably composed of flat spring stock, and as best seen in Fig. 2, the Width of each arm of the spring is sufficient that the spring has only slight clearance between the top and bottom walls II and I2 of the housing. Thus the spring is freely slidable in the housing, but has little tendency to rock therein. The spring arms are provided with opposed external detents I'I which are positioned between the large end of the housing 8 and the post I3, the detents I'I preferably being formed by bending the spring arms outwardly. The bias of the spring urges the detents I1 toward the converging side walls 9 and I0 of the housing. The projecting ends of the spring arms are curved back, as at I8, to provide suitable finger gripping portions.

After the spring I4 is placed in the housing 8, the top and bottom walls I I and I2'of the housy ing 8 areflanged, atV I9 and 20, to prevent the spring from sliding out of the housing through the opening in the small end thereof; Thus the flanges I9 and 20, and the post I3, permit limited longitudinal movement of the spring in the housmg.

lIn using the restraining device, the ends 5 and 6 of a cord, such as a shoelace, are threaded through the opening at the small end of the housing,v between the spring arms I5-I6.fand the side walls 9 and III of the housing 8, and out the large end of the housing. Preferably, the tips of the cords are then provided with retaining members such as the balls 2|, so that the restraining device may not be inadvertently pulled from the ends of the cord.

The restraining device may be slid freely along the cord until its smaller end is positioned 'close against the article which is held together by the cord, the motion in this direction being free because the spring I 4 is urged toward the large open end of the housing 8, and its motion is arrested by the post I3.

Any force tending to move the restraining device in the opposite direction, so as to loosen the cord, slides the spring I4 toward the small end of the housing by reason of frictional engagement of the cord with the external detents I1. Motion of the cord through the housing in this direction is restrained by cooperation of the detents II and the converging side walls 9 and I0. Thus, the greater the force which is exerted, the tighter the cord is gripped by the device. The amount of force which the device can successfully overcome depends upon the smoothness ofv the cord itself; but even on cords woven from such smooth surfaced fabrics as rayon or nylon, the device can withstand a considerable pull Without slipping. l

In order to release the restraining device to permit the cord to be loosened, it is merely necessary to press the projecting ends of the spring arms together with the fingers to the position shown in Fig. 4, which allows the device to slide freely so as to permit loosening of the cord.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A unidirectional restraining device for a fastening cord, comprising: a wedge shaped housing having open ends through which the ends of a fastening cord may be threaded, the smaller end of said housing being flanged; a post in the housing adjacent the smaller end thereof; and a flat bifurcated spring spanning said post and retained for limited movement in said housing by said flanges and said post, the arms of said spring being provided with opposed external detents and having their ends projecting from the large endof the housing. v

2. A unidirectional restraining device for a fas'- tening cord, comprising: a, wedge shaped housing having open ends through which the ends of a fastening cord may be threaded; andA a bifurcated spring mounted in said housing for limited longif tudinal motion and having the ends of its arms projecting from the larger end of the housing to provide finger pieces, said spring hav-ing anfexternal detent on each arm and being biased to urge said detents toward the converging walls of.

urge said detents toward the converging Walls of the housing.

4. A unidirectional restraining device for a fastening cord, comprising: a wedge shaped housing having open ends through which the ends of a fastening cord may be threaded; and a at bifurcated spring mounted in said housing for lim- 'ited longitudinal' motion, the arms of said spring being outwardly bent to form an external detent on each arm and the spring being biased to urge said detents toward the converging walls of the housing;`

' ADELINE E. E. PATERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

